THE Malaysia Madani Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house with the prime minister slated to be held in six states starting with Kedah on April 29 will not be a waste. Instead, it is an effort to fete the people in conjunction with the Raya festivities.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the cost of providing food such as ketupat and lemang as well as satay at the open house events will not be excessive.

“Why would we be so calculative about having open house events to celebrate Raya with the people? That ketupat and lemang will not cost that much. I don’t see any issue… how would it be a waste?

“Other than lemang, ketupat and satay, there will also be booths serving cendol and ais kacang, and they are not that expensive. Insya-Allah, it won’t be a waste,” he said at a press conference after attending Raya celebrations at the General Operations Force tactical base in Bukit Kayu Hitam today.

Saifuddin said this in response to a report quoting Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as saying that the open house events were part of programmes held in view of the state elections and should have not been organised.

Sanusi was also quoted as saying the programmes would incur high costs and this runs contrary to the federal government’s austerity drive. He also proposed for it to be held only in Putrajaya as was practised previous years.

This year’s open house events are set to be held in Kedah on April 29, Penang (May 6), Negri Sembilan (May 7), Kelantan (May 12), Terengganu (May 13) and Selangor (May 14).

Saifuddin, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general, said the events are meant to be election campaign programmes, but for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to meet with the people.

He said the PAS-led Kedah government and all people, including Sanusi, are welcome to attend the open house on April 29.

Saifuddin also said the seat distribution talks between PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) for the elections in the six states are running smoothly.

“There is no problem in the negotiation process. I can say that it’s progressing well.” – Bernama, April 25, 2023.